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May 2015 Issue
a loss control resource for members
Compliments of
Electricity: The Unseen Danger!
E
lectrical energy can damage your property and ignite fires, along with seriously injure and
even kill. The hazard of electricity cannot be eliminated, but it can be controlled through
employee education and proper engineering. Even though your industry doesn’t necessarily
involve the direct handling of electrical power, there are still many ways you come into contact
with electricity without realizing it during your day-to-day activities. The more you and your
employees understand about electrical safety can recognize the hazards, the safer everyone will
be at the workplace.
Spot hazards before they cause fire or shock!
Don’t wait for an accident! Take action at once by
calling a qualified repair person, if you notice any
of these danger signs:
✓Recurring problems with blowing fuses or tripping
circuit breakers.
✓Feeling a tingling sensation when you touch an
electrical appliance.
✓Discoloration of wall outlets.
✓A burning smell or unusual odor coming from an
appliance or wiring.
✓Sizzling sound at wall switches or outlets.
✓Flickering lights.
Knowing where to look for hazards, helps workers
avoid them.
✓Inadequate wiring.
✓Exposed electrical parts.
✓Overhead power lines.
✓Wires with bad insulation.
✓Exposed electrical parts.
✓Electrical systems and tools that are not grounded
or double insulated.
✓Damaged power tools and equipment.
✓Overloaded circuits.
Lockout/Tagout de-energized safety!
Lockout: The use of a system and a special lock to prevent power from being accidentally turned on during equipment
maintenance or repair. This may be used for electrical, as well as, other power such as hydraulic power, compressed air
or coiled springs.
Tagout: The use of a special tag to warn workers of the danger of starting the equipment,
when equipment can’t be locked out.
When a lockout is in process…
• Never remove a lock without authorization.
• Never turn on a machine during a lockout.
• Never operate a machine that has been tagged.
• Stay clear of locked or tagged machinery until you are notified that the power is back on.
• After a lockout, make sure all guards are back in place and all tools are removed from the machinery.
Common Hazard
Dangers of Electrical Shock
Electricity follows the easiest path to the ground. If you
touch a live electrical part while you are in contact with
the ground, current passes through you to the ground,
causing a shock.
Electrical injuries consist of four main types:
electrocution (fatal), electric shock, burns, and fall
caused as a result of contact with electrical energy.
Shock can cause. . .
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•
•
Heartbeat and breathing to stop, leading to death.
Muscle contractions that result in falls, broken
bones, or bruises.
Severe internal and external burns.
The effects of shock depend on. . .
•
•
•
•
The type of circuit.
Using an extension cord or power strip to run more
electrical equipment?
While solving the problem of too few outlets, you may
create another – an overloaded circuit! Overloaded circuits
can cause an electrical fire because of the additional
electrical current running through the outlet, which is more
that it was designed to handle. When this happens, the
wiring or the outlet will overheat and potentially create an
electrical fire.
What to look for:
✓ Outlet or wall is warm to the touch.
✓ Outlet is discolored.
✓ Circuit breakers or fuses frequently
trip.
✓ A burnt smell of insulation.
Voltage.
How it travels through the body.
What to do:
To prevent shock, use safe equipment such as. . .
Have a licensed electrician install additional circuits where
needed, along with more outlets to eliminate the use of
extension cords.
•
•
•
If adding additional electrical outlets are not an option
and you must use a power strip, be sure to follow these
recommendations to ensure the workplace is as safe as
possible.
How long contact lasts.
Clean, dry undamaged cord insulation.
Guards to cover energized equipment parts.
Fuses, circuit breakers, and ground fault circuit
interrupters to cut off power during a circuit
overload or short circuit.
✓ Use a name-brand product
Safe habits while working around electricity. . .
•
•
•
Keep a distance from exposed wires or parts.
Avoid using equipment in wet conditions.
Access hundreds
To register, email
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is plenty of air circulation to
disperse heat.
✓
Do not attempt to plug
grounded (three prong) cords
into ungrounded (two-slot)
outlets.
of industry-specific
for FREE!
from a reputable source. Low-quality or counterfeit
power strips may contain wiring that isn’t adequate to
carry the load.
✓ Place power strips where there
Always use grounded tools and grounded circuits.
loss control resources. . .
✓ Do not bind, kink, or knot electrical cords.
✓ Never run cords under rugs or where chairs
can roll over them.
you need to use them.
✓ Keep all non-critical electrical items unplugged until
The above material has been provided by and/or copied from http://toolbox.memberinsurance.com, http: www.osha.gov and http://www.electricityforum.com
This document is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for individual legal counsel or advice on issues discussed herein. Readers seeking resolution
of specific legal issues or business concerns related to the captioned topic should consult their attorney and/or insurance representative.
For additional risk management tips and resources, visit The Toolbox
website or email [email protected].